Since gravitational force acts proportional to mass, why dont heavy bodies fall faster than lighter ones?

Answer 1

Actually Ben, gravitational for is porportional to mass. Check it out:
the gravitational constant=6.67*10^-11=G
to calculate the amount of force exerted on an object by another object with respective masses we use:
(G*mass1*mass2)/distance between the two objects.
BUT!!!
that's the force, not the "speed" at which it falls (it's actualy the acceleration, not the speed/velocity).
when bodies fall, they are being acted upon by a larger force, but require a larger force to accelerate them at a a given rate.
Newton's Second law states:
F=ma
therefore,
F/m=a.
so a heavy body has more force acting on it, but also more mass. It just turns out the extra mass and the extra force balance each other out.

This is assuming that there is no air friction by the way.

Answer 2

Without the math, think of it like this.

In the case of acceleration due to gravity, the force of the earth's gravitational field simply converts potential energy to kinetic energy.

It is essentially an equal force for both objects - IF we discount the objects themselves. And if we discount the objects, and an equal force acts on both, the LIGHTER object will fall faster!

However, the proportionality is true for the objects as well as the earth. Since both objects fall at the same rate, the heavy object is obviously demonstrating a stronger attraction to the earth since it simple takes a greater total force to move a heavier object than it does to move a lighter one.
In other words, if a heavy object and a lighter object accelerate at the same rate - the force exerted on these objects has to be proportional to their mass.

Answer 3

If you dropped a hammer and a feather in a vacuum where air resistance is negligible, then they would both hit the bottom at the same time. The reason they dont in our atmosphere is because air resistance. F = MA and the acceleration in the Y direction is 9.8 m/s^2 in the downward direction (negative). The M is the mass of an object in kilograms. The F is the force of a body in Newtons

Answer 4

F = ma is the formula (force = mass times acceleration)
The force is proportional to the mass of the object, like you say.

So, if m doubles, then so does F.

Right?

Now, what does "a" do if F and m both double?
rewrite F=ma as a = F/m
If both F and m double, nothing happens to a
If F and m triple, nothing happens to a.
etc.
a is constant.
Acceleration is therefore constant.
So no matter what the mass, the acceleration is constant and therefore the speed is the same.

Answer 5

Since gravitational force acts proportional to mass, why dont heavy bodies fall faster than lighter ones? ^^^^^^^

Its Not proportional to mass.

Answer 6

Because force equals mass times acceleration. It take more force to accelerate the more massive body.

f = mg = ma. Mass cancels out. Newtons 2nd Law

Answer 7

can you push a car faster than you push a cardbox?